The Villain Rising: Ascension of Arcane Trickster. - Chapter 40: The Night Before Goodbye

After 20 years of dedicating his life to opera ever since he had quit the performing arts high school, he had failed at an interview. Losing his motivations, Jo Yunjae depended on alcohol to live out his days until one day, he had been sent back 20 years in time, to the day before his high school admission.

William was once a gamer ranked in top 20 worldwide. After his death, he found himself in the body of an insignificant NPC in the game “God's Apocalypse.” This NPC was doomed to die early in the game, filling William with dread because he knew he had only three months to live.The game world of “God's Apocalypse” was rich with many different fantasy races, from elves to dwarves, each offering unique opportunities for him to make use of, as well as challenges to home oneself.William was terrified because he had the knowledge of the game's future but lacked the power to change his fate.However, he was not without options. He retained his game panel and the unique talent “[Jack of All Trades],” which allowed him to learn skills from various professions.William realized that when the game's beta opened, players would arrive. As an NPC, he could assign quests to them and use his knowledge of the game's future to manipulate them to do his bidding.He began to leverage the abilities of the players to alter his fate and grow stronger.William made alliances with various races, gaining their trust and learning their secrets. This enabled him to transcend the boundaries of his initial condition and steadily increase his power.As William's power grew, players in the game started to complain: “This boss is impossibly strong and keeps getting stronger, we demand a nerf!” They were frustrated by his rapid progression and the unique challenges he posed.In contrast, the elves venerated him: “Lord William is the ultimate chosen one, bringing an unparalleled peace to our realm.” They saw him as a savior who brought stability and hope.The mages revered him as well: “He is the trailblazer of magic, our protector. His name, William Cain, is synonymous with the god of the arcane.” They admired his innovative approach to magic and his role in advancing their knowledge.When asked how he managed to achieve such feats, William simply responded, “Knowledge is power, and it's the one thing I don't lack.”

HE DIED BEGGING FOR LOVE. NOW HE IS BACK TO BURN THE WORLD DOWN...and maybe fall in love along the way.Genre: BL | Dark Fantasy | Revenge | 18+ | Apocalypse | Second Chance Rebirth#BL #ZombieApocalypse #EnemiesToLovers #ColdMLxBrokenMC #DarkRomance #18Plus #TraumaRecovery #Revenge #PowerAwakening #SlowBurn #SupernaturalAbilities---Everyone in the Capital knows about the notorious Greyson family—wealthy, powerful, and rotten to the core.But the real scandal?The arrival of the triplet illegitimate sons, dragged into the mansion like unwanted baggage after their mother died.The younger one, Asher Greyson, became the family’s favorite punching bag: mocked, overlooked, a stain on their perfect reputation.All Asher ever wanted was to be loved.What he got instead was betrayal and a death so cold it burned.After dying at the hands of his half-sister, dissected like an animal for his rare lightning ability, Asher is reborn. But the world hasn’t ended…not yet.This time, he’s four months ahead of the outbreak.He won’t beg again.He’ll become something terrifying that the world itself will kneel down and beg for mercy.The apocalypse began with falling meteorites, shards of radioactive hell carrying the Z-virus. The purple moon will rise and black rain will follow. And from the ashes, ability users will be born…Asher will be one of them.But he’s not the only one walking through fire.Commander Caspian Winters, the Ice Emperor, is haunted by dreams of a boy with lightning scars and crimson red eyes. A boy he doesn’t remember holding as he bled out. A boy he’ll soon meet again.And when they collide, the spark is instant—dangerous, hungry, and inevitable.[The man who once haunted Asher’s final days like a ghost, untouchable and unreadable, now stands before him under the glow of the purple moon.Caspian’s gloved hand tilts his chin up.“You’re not what I expected,” Caspian murmurs, voice low and cold.Asher’s lips curl faintly, eyes glowing crimson.“And yet,” Caspian whispers, “You're exactly what I want.”---“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Asher’s voice breaks on the question.Caspian doesn’t blink.“Because every time I look at you…” he says, stepping closer, “…I feel like I’ve already lost you.”]Asher swore he’d never trust again. But Caspian’s ice is the only thing that can soothe the storm inside him.Let the world burn.Let the dead rise.This time, Asher Greyson is taking back everything, his power, his revenge, and maybe… his heart.

WARNING: FL is scheming and evil.